JURY SERVICE’

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 15, 13 October 1942, Page 4

JURY SERVICE’

Difficulty In Granting Exemptions

Dominion Special Service.

PALMERSTON N„ October 12.

Au intimation that the administration of justice was urgent and should be regarded as being as imperative as essential industries was given by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), in th Supreme Court, Palmerston North-, today, when eight persons sought exemption from jury service. “Admittedly three of you are employed by Government departments on urgent work,” he said, “but it must be understood by Government departments that the administration of justice is urgent and also an essential industry. A suggestion has been made to the authorities to meet these difficulties, but. nothing has been done. Were it not for the fact that we have only a small amount of business on the list, some of you gentlemen would not be allowed exemption. “Several warnings have been given of the difficulty and this has become more and more acute. If the proper authorities will do nothing iidthe matter, then it will not be very long before the Court will have to say, ‘we are very sorry,' but the administration of justice must continue.’ So long as the jury service remains as it is, and no change is made, then the time <s not far distant when the Court will have to say that some applications for exemption made on the grounds of persons being employed in an essential industry will not be granted. If that position does arise, and it seems most imminent, the fault will not be with the Court.”